With an amazing debut novel, Tina Ann Forkner is an author to watch for. Her characters come to life and hold a place in your heart long after the book is done, and her story holds a powerful message of regret, hidden secrets, redemption and forgiveness.
"Ruby Among Us" tells the story of three DiCamillo women: Kitty, Ruby, and Lucy--three generations of secrets, struggles, and longing to know who they all really were.
The story opens with Ruby's untimely death and Lucy's guilt over her believed part in it. Kitty, Lucy's grandmother, takes her place in Lucy's life as guardian, becoming both grandmother and mother to the young girl.
Lucy grows up in a very sheltered life--homeschooled, trained in the arts, and never really having any interaction with the 'outside world'. All she has is her grandmother, her Kitty. And she's content with that for the most part.
Until the day she turns 19 and is in line for a post-graduate position, on the cusp of a new life, with new friends and a potential love interest. It's then that Lucy feels the need to finally know who she really is, where she comes from, and who her mother--whom she is rapidly forgetting--really was.
Kitty brings forth painful memories long kept hidden, in bits and pieces as she can stand the pain of regret, remorse, and shame. What unfolds is a gorgeous tapestry of wrong choices, hidden secrets, and lost moments all woven in with the power of forgiveness, redemption, and restoration.
You cannot read "Ruby Among Us" from page one and not end up changed by page 313...you just can't. This is a powerful novel that takes part over three generations, with the 'curse' being broken in the third.
Generational curses haunt a lot of today's families...I know they do mine. I have allowed God to work in my life to break those patterns that have been ingrained in the women in my family, and I see that at work in Tina Forkner's novel. This is powerful writing from a very talented new author.
So, I'm giving "Ruby Among Us" a five out of five with a photo album as a charm...pictures are sometimes the keys to unlock the past for us in ways we cannot imagine.
To learn more about this amazing debut and the author, click here.
I'm also hosting my first giveaway in a VERY LONG TIME (post surgery stuff, you know....), but if you'd like a chance to win a copy of "Ruby Among Us" leave me a comment and tell me your birthstone, and I'll draw a winner next Friday!!
Happy Reading!
Deena
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16 comments:
Diamond
lilacbutterfly [at] earthlink.net
aquamarine
Hope things are going well with you!
Diamond, sounds interesting - there are more books coming out with homeschooling protagonists!
If this isn't open to Canadians - no problem :).
My birthstone is Garnet. This book looks really good, thanks for the chance to win.
tzaddi_sister(at)yahoo(dot)com
This sounds really interesting! I am a homeschool graduate myself. My birthstone is emerald. Thanks, Deena!
author_erin(at)lycos(dot)com
My birthstone is blue topaz or turquoise. I'd love to win this book... it certainly seems interesting.
~Crystal M.
olenapena[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Mine's emerald. Great giveaway! Count me in. bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
Mine is Topaz for November, and I don't really like it. I wish it were something like ruby or sapphire. Enter please!
cmrobin at bellsouth dot net
My August birthstone is peridot, and I love it.
I really enjoy books that deal with family relationships and would love to read Ruby Among Us. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy!
cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net
Greetings, Thanks for the great book giveaway drawing! I hope your are doing great. I would enjoy reading and learning about the 3 generations of this family. My birthday is in June which means by birthstones are the pearl and alexandrite. Please enter me in your drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Love to win the book. Thanks for the opportunity. My birthstone is RUBY :-) And my b-day is coming up this summer for the big 35.
Leslie
amajorkey at yahoo dot com
My birthstone is an aquamarine (and, I think, also a bloodstone - don't know that I've ever seen one of those).
Aquamarine is my birthstone.
This book sounds like a good one to read and then pass to Mom and/or my sis. Thanks for having the giveaway.
such a lovely book. i would love to read this. :)
mine is emerald.
ivan[dot]girl25[at]gmail[dot]com
I've been reading all of the interviews with Tina and the reviews for her first novel, RUBY AMONG US. It sounds like a great read!
My birthstone is diamond.
hawkes(at)citlink.net
Thanks everyone for the comments. I really hope people enjoy the book.
T
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